iPhone and iPad Tips of the Week - June 17, 2010

So, it's iPhone 4 week and that is all everyone is talking about or blogging about, right? Well if you already have an iPhone and you pre-ordered a new one have you thought about what you are going to do with the old one? If you haven't then perhaps these handy tips about selling a used iPhone might help!

Prepare and Clean Your Old iPhone for Resale

First, you should prepare the old phone by wiping its memory. It's easy--simply launch the Settings app and go to General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Once this is completed don't allow anything else to sync with your iPhone.

Second, consider literally wiping the iPhone to remove any dust, debris, finger prints and oil smudges. Remove any plastic films you might have applied if they are worn. A clean phone will definitely sell better than one with lots of dirt, dents, or scratches.

Jailbreak and Unlock

Your iPhone might sell better if you jailbreak and/or unlock it prior to selling it. You may even be able to sell it for considerably more. If it is unlocked, the buyer would be able to use it on whatever carrier they choose.

One note of caution: Apple generally releases a version of iOS (formerly iPhone OS) when they release a new iPhone. If you want current unlocks and jailbreaks to work, don't install the latest version of iOS on the phone unless the creators of your favorite jailbreak tool tells you it is okay.

Where to Sell

There are currently hundreds of iPhones for sale on eBay, Craigslist, and other online second-hand retailers. The top two places to sell are eBay and Craigslist, but you might consider selling your iPhone to an individual. Try your friends, work, or local user group. Stress the fact that they can buy and use your iPhone without a contract on AT&T--a good reason not to just give it away if you sell it. A contract free iPhone is a good buy for most people.

If you sell on eBay, consider a short auction with a low reserve, since these tend to do better in the long run. Also consider using PayPal as a means of receiving payment since it gives the buyer and seller some protection. Craigslist offers some tips to prevent you from getting scammed.

Trade it in

Consider foregoing the drama of making the deal and get cash for your iPhone using a site like Gazelle.com. We visited that site and had an offer of $222 for a perfect condition 32GB iPhone 3GS with all the cables.

Bonus Tip: Transfer of Applecare Increases Resale Value

Apple makes it easy to resell your iPhone if you purchased an AppleCare Protection Plan. These protection plans are fully transferable to the person buying your used equipment. We are often very surprised to realize that many Apple users are unaware of this. A fact labeled as item six within the AppleCare Protection Plan terms and conditions. If your equipment is still under warranty, then you can rest assured that with some work on your part (you have to be good sales person), you'll be able to sell your iPhone at a premium price!

So, the gist of these tips are to leverage your equipment's condition, value, and the transfer of the AppleCare Protection Plan to get more money for your used iPhone. Definitely don't just give it away!